Information processing system, information processing device, storage medium storing information processing program, information processing method, and storage device

ABSTRACT

An example of information processing system includes a storage device; and an information processing device for performing near field communication with the storage device. The storage device has an external appearance representing, three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, an object that appears in a virtual space generated by execution of a predetermined application program by the information processing device. The storage device stores object information on the object. The information processing device writes, to the storage device, character image information specifying an image of a character created based on an instruction of a user. The information processing device executes a predetermined process using at least one of the object information and the character image information read from the storage device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The disclosures of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-95029 filed onMay 2, 2014 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-110879 filed on May29, 2014 are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The technology herein relates to an information processing system, aninformation processing device, a storage medium storing an informationprocessing program, an information processing method and a storagedevice for performing near field communication.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Conventionally, there is a technology for performing communicationbetween devices using near field communication such as NFC. By nearfield communication, communication between an information processingdevice and a storage device (so-called tag) starts in response to thestorage device approaching the information processing device.

Conventionally, a storage device that is communicable with aninformation processing device by near field communication is merely usedin a specific application program executed by the information processingdevice, and there has been room for improvement regarding theversatility of such a storage device.

Accordingly, this application discloses an information processingsystem, an information processing device, a storage medium storing aninformation processing program, and an information processing method,with which a storage device is usable in a more versatile manner, andsuch a storage device.

(1)

An example of information processing system described in thisspecification is an information processing system including a storagedevice; and an information processing device for performing near fieldcommunication with the storage device.

The storage device has an external appearance representing,three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, an object that appears in avirtual space generated by execution of a predetermined applicationprogram by the information processing device. The storage device alsostores object information on the object.

The information processing device includes a character write unit and afirst process execution unit. The character write unit writes, to thestorage device, character image information specifying an image of acharacter created based on an instruction of a user. The first processexecution unit executes a predetermined process using at least one ofthe object information and the character image information read from thestorage device.

(2)

The first process execution unit may execute, as the predeterminedprocess, a process of displaying at least a part of the object and atleast a part of the character on a display unit in the state where thepart of the object and the part of the character are associated witheach other.

(3)

The object information may be stored on a storage unit in advance at thetime of production of the storage device.

(4)

The object may be a player character to be operated by the user. Thecharacter may correspond to the user that operates the player character.

(5)

The character write unit may write, to the storage device, informationspecifying an image of an avatar of the user as the character imageinformation.

(6)

The information specifying the image of the avatar may be informationspecifying an image of each of parts included in the avatar.

(7)

The storage device may store identification information on the object asthe object information.

(8)

The first process execution unit may execute the predeterminedapplication program to execute, as the predetermined process, anappearance process of causing the object that appears in the virtualspace using the object information read from the storage device.

(9)

The information processing device may further include a second processexecution unit for executing another application program different fromthe predetermined application program to further execute a process ofcausing the character to appear in the virtual space using the characterimage information read from the storage device.

(10)

Another example of information processing system described in thisspecification is an information processing system including a storagedevice; and an information processing device for performing near fieldcommunication with the storage device.

The storage device has an external appearance representing,three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, an object that appears in avirtual space generated by execution of a predetermined applicationprogram by the information processing device. The storage device alsostores object information on the object and user information on a user.

The information processing device includes a display control unit fordisplaying the object and information representing the usercorresponding to the object on a display unit in the state where theobject and the information representing the user are associated witheach other using the object information and the user information readfrom the storage device.

(11)

The object may be a player character in a game application which is thepredetermined application. The display control unit may display, on thedisplay unit, the player character and information representing the userthat operates the player character in the state where the playercharacter and the information representing the user are associated witheach other.

(12)

The user information may be information specifying a character that isdifferent from the object and corresponds to the user. The informationprocessing device may further include a process execution unit forexecuting another application program different from the predeterminedapplication program to cause a character specified by the userinformation read from the storage device to appear in the virtual space.

(13)

Still another example of information processing system described in thisspecification is an information processing system including a storagedevice; and an information processing device for performing near fieldcommunication with the storage device.

The storage device has an external appearance representing,three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, a general appearance of afirst character appearing in a virtual space generated by execution of apredetermined application program by the information processing device.The storage device also stores character information on the firstcharacter.

The information processing device includes a character write unit and afirst process execution unit. The character write unit writes, to thestorage device, character image information specifying an image of asecond character created based on an instruction of a user. The firstprocess execution unit executes a predetermined process using at leastone of the character information and the character image informationread from the storage device.

The first character and the second character may be the same character(e.g., avatar in the embodiment described later) or differentcharacters.

This specification discloses an information processing device or astorage device included in the information processing system accordingto (1) through (13), and also discloses a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing an information processingprogram which causes a computer of the information processing device tofunction as each of units of the information processing device. Theinformation processing device may have a structure including thecharacter write unit but not including the first process execution unit.The information processing program may be an information processingprogram causing the computer of the information processing device tofunction as a character write unit (but not as the first processexecution unit). This specification discloses an information processingmethod executable by the information processing system.

According to an information processing system, an information processingdevice, a storage medium storing an information processing program, aninformation processing method and a storage device described above, thestorage device performing near field communication can be used in a moreversatile manner.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a structure of an example of information processing systemaccording to the example embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows an example of external appearance of a tag;

FIG. 3 shows an example of data stored on the tag;

FIG. 4 shows an example of flow of a process, executed by theinformation processing system, of reading data from the tag by aspecific application program;

FIG. 5 shows an example of flow of a process executed by the informationprocessing system for reading data from the tag by the specificapplication program;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of flow executed by acommunication control unit when a read instruction is received (readinstruction process);

FIG. 7 shows an example of flow of a process executed by the informationprocessing system for writing initial registration data to the tag;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of flow executed by thecommunication control unit when a registration instruction is received(registration instruction process);

FIG. 9 shows an example of flow of a process executed by the informationprocessing system for writing dedicated data to the tag;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of flow executed by thecommunication control unit when a write instruction is received (writeinstruction process);

FIG. 11 shows an example of method for counting the number of times ofdevice change;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of flow of a process executedby a CPU by an application program;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of flow of a process executedby the CPU by a specific application program (specific applicationprocess);

FIG. 14 shows an example of character setting screen in the specificapplication process;

FIG. 15 shows an example of game image displayed on a display unit bythe specific application process;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of flow of a process executedby the CPU by an application program different from the specificapplication program (process of another application);

FIG. 17 shows an example of character setting screen in the process ofthe another application; and

FIG. 18 shows an example of data stored on the tag in a modificationexample of the example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 1. Structure ofthe Information System

Hereinafter, an information processing system, an information processingdevice, a storage medium storing an information processing program, aninformation processing method, and a storage device according to anexample of the example embodiment will be described. First, a structureof an information processing system will be described. FIG. 1 shows astructure of an example of information processing system in the exampleembodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system 1includes a storage device (tag) 2 and an information processing device3. The information processing device 3 is an optional informationprocessing device capable of performing near field communication withthe tag 2.

In the example embodiment, a case in which communication based on theNFC standards is performed between the information processing device 3and the tag 2 will be described as an example of near fieldcommunication. Herein, “near field communication” refers to acommunication system by which radio waves (e.g., electromagneticinduction) from one device generates an electromotive force in the otherdevice. The other device is operable by the generated electromagneticforce (the other device may or may not have a power source).

In the near field communication, the information processing device 3 andthe tag 2 become communicable with each other when approaching eachother (typically, when the distance therebetween becomes several tencentimeters or shorter). In the near field communication, radio wavesare kept transmitted while the communication between two communicationdevices are established (i.e., while one of the communication devices(tag) is close to the other communication device).

The information processing device 3 is an optional informationprocessing device capable of performing near field communication. In theexample embodiment, the information processing device 3 may be, forexample, a mobile (also referred to as “portable”) device such as amobile game device, a mobile phone, a smart phone or the like; aninstallation type device such as a personal computer, a home-use gamedevice or the like; or a large-scale device such as a commercial-usearcade game device or the like. For example, the information processingdevice 3 is a mobile device having an NFC reader/writer function.

The tag 2 is an optional device capable of performing near fieldcommunication with the information processing device 3. In the exampleembodiment, the tag 2 is a storage device having an NFC tag function.Namely, the tag 2 includes a circuit (IC chip) for performing near fieldcommunication and a storage unit (memory, etc.) storing data. The tag 2is not limited to a device having only a function of storing data, andmay be an information processing device (mobile device) having an NFCcard emulation function.

Hereinafter, a structure of the information processing device 3 will bedescribed. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 3includes a communication unit 11. The communication unit 11 is anantenna usable for near field communication. The information processingdevice 3 also includes a communication chip 12. The communication chip12 generates a signal (radio wave) to be transmitted from thecommunication unit 11 in conformity to an instruction from a CPU 13(described later). The generated signal is transmitted from thecommunication unit 11. The communication chip 12 is, for example, an NFCchip.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 3 includes the CPU13 and a memory 14. The CPU 13 is an information processing unit forexecuting various types of information processes to be executed by theinformation processing device 3. The CPU 13 executes the above-describedvarious types of information processes by use of the memory 14.

The information processing device 3 includes a program storage unit 15.The program storage unit 15 stores various programs (including acommunication program and an application program described later) to beexecuted by the information processing device 3. The program storagedevice 15 is an optional storage device (storage medium) accessible bythe CPU 13. The program storage unit 15 may be a storage unit built inthe information processing device 3 such as, for example, a hard disc ora memory; a storage medium detachable from the information processingdevice 3 such as, for example, an optical disc or a cartridge; or bothof such a storage unit and such a storage medium.

In the example embodiment, in the information processing device 3, atleast two types of programs, namely, an application program and acommunication program, are stored on the storage unit 15. Theapplication program is a program for executing an optional applicationof performing data communication with the tag 2. The application programmay be, for example, a game program of reading game data from the tag 2and performing a game process by use of the game data. The communicationprogram is a program for performing near field communication with thetag 2. The communication program may be, for example, firmware forcausing the communication chip 12 to operate, and may be prepared in theinformation processing process 3 as a library in advance. As describedlater in detail, the communication program receives an instruction fromthe application and causes the communication chip 12 to perform anoperation for communication. In the case where the informationprocessing device 3 is capable of executing a plurality of applicationprograms, the communication program is shared by the plurality ofapplications. Namely, the communication program (communication controlunit 32 described later) can accept an instruction on communication froma plurality of applications.

The information processing device 3 also includes an input unit 16 foraccepting an instruction from a user such as a button, a touch panel orthe like. The information processing device 3 further includes a displayunit 17 for displaying an image generated by an information process asdescribed above.

The information processing device 3 may include a plurality of devices.For example, the information processing device 3 may include a deviceincluding the CPU 13 and the memory 14 and a device including thecommunication unit 11 and the communication chip 12, and the latterdevice may be detachably connected to the former device. The informationprocessing device 3 may include a main body device including the CPU 13and a separate device including the input unit 16 and/or the displayunit 17. For example, in another embodiment, the information processingdevice 3 may include a main body device and a terminal device includingthe input unit 16 and the display unit 17. Alternatively, theinformation processing device may include a main body device and anoperation device including the input unit 16. Still alternatively, theinformation processing device 3 may not include the display unit 17 andmay use a TV as a display device.

In another embodiment, at least a part of the information process to beexecuted by the information processing device 3 may be executed in adistributed manner by a plurality of devices communicable with eachother via a network (wide area network and/or local area network).

FIG. 2 shows an example of external appearance of the tag 2. As shown inFIG. 2, the tag 2 in the example embodiment is a figure-type tag havingan external appearance representing a character. The characterrepresented by the tag 2 is a character appearing in a specificapplication (e.g., game) executable by the information processing device3. A user can use the tag 2 to cause the character to appear in thespecific application. Namely, when executing the program of the specificapplication, the information processing device 3 uses the data stored onthe tag 2 to cause the above-described character to appear in a virtualspace generated by the program of the specific application. Thefigure-type tag 2 represents an optional object that appears in theapplication. The figure-type tag 2 is not limited to representing acharacter, and may represent an item in the game application.

As described above, the tag 2 is used in a specific application program.As described later in detail, the tag 2 can store data usable only in aspecific application program (dedicated data described later).Hereinafter, such a specific application program will be referred to asa “specific application program”. There may be one type of specificapplication program or a plurality of types of specific applicationprograms corresponding to one type of tag. In the case where, forexample, a plurality of types of applications are provided for oneseries, the plurality of types of applications may be specificapplication programs.

As described later in detail, the tag 2 is usable in a specificapplication program and also is usable in another application program.Namely, the tag 2 stores data usable only in a specific applicationprogram and also store data usable in another application program.Hereinafter, an example of data stored on the tag 2 will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an example of data stored on the tag 2. In the exampleembodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the tag 2 includes a read-only area 21and a read/write area 22. The read-only area 21 is a storage area thatonly allows data stored thereon to be read. The read/write area 22 is astorage area that allows data stored thereon to be read and also allowsdata to be written thereto. Data is stored in the read-only area 21during the production of the tag 2, and after that (after the tag 2 isshipped), data write to the read-only area 21 is prohibited. Namely, theinformation processing device 3 (application program to be executed bythe information processing device 3) cannot write data to the read-onlyarea 21. By contrast, the information processing device 3 (applicationprogram to be executed by the information processing device 3) can readand write from and to the read/write area 22. At the time of shipping ofthe tag 2, data may or may not be stored in the read/write area 22. Ineither case, when the tag 2 and the information processing device 3communicate with each other, data is written to the read/write area 22by the information processing device 3 and stored therein.

In the example embodiment, roughly three types of data, namely,dedicated data, shared data and management data, are stored on the tag2. As shown in FIG. 3, in the example embodiment, storage areas in whichrespective types of data are stored (dedicated data area, shared dataarea and management data area) are predefined. In another embodiment,such storage areas may not be predefined.

The dedicated data is data usable only in a specific application programas described above. In the example embodiment, the dedicated dataincludes saved data of the specific application program (see FIG. 3).Data stored as saved data includes, for example, data representing aparameter on the character represented by the tag 2, data representinghow the game of the specific application program is progressing, and/ordata on a player of the game of the specific application program. In theexample embodiment, the dedicated data is stored in the read/write area22 and is not stored in the read-only area 21 (see FIG. 3).

Now, the shared data will be described. The shared data is data usablein a specific application program and also an application program thatis not a specific application program. In the example embodiment, theshared data is stored in both of the read-only area 21 ands theread/write area 22. The tag 2 may store the shared data in only eitherone of the read-only area 21 ands the read/write area 22.

On the read-only area 21, at least the following data (information) isstored as the shared data.

Individual ID (data representing the individual ID)

Type ID (data representing the type ID)

Figure ID (data representing the figure ID)

Series ID (data representing the series ID)

Use ID (data representing the use ID)

The individual ID is identification information specific to the tag. AnNFC tag such as the tag 2 in the example embodiment storesidentification information specific to the tag that is called a UID(Unique ID). The individual ID is different from the UID. The individualID is an ID that is different from the UID and is assigned so that aprovider of a service using the tag can manage the tag easily.

The figure ID is identification information specific to the externalappearance (shape, color) of the figure-type tag 2. The figure ID isidentification information that allows the type of the figure of the tag2 to be uniquely specified. In the case where, for example, there are aplurality of tags having different external appearances (e.g., differentposes or clothes) for one character, each tag is assigned a figure ID ofa different value. In this case, the figure ID may include an IDspecific to the character and also an ID representing a pose, clothes orthe like of the corresponding tag.

An application program executable by the information processing device 3includes a figure ID of a tag to be used (usable) by the applicationprogram itself. As described later in detail, in the case where thevalue of the figure ID included in the application program matches thevalue of the figure ID stored on the tag, the application program canuse the dedicated data stored on the tag. Namely, the figure ID can beconsidered as identification information for managing the use of thededicated data stored on the tag 2.

The series ID is identification information specific to a group to whichthe object (character) represented by the tag 2 belongs. In the casewhere, for example, the character represented by the tag 2 appears in aplurality of types of applications (e.g., a series of gameapplications), the plurality of types of applications may be set as onegroup, and a series ID representing the group may be set.

The type ID is identification information that represents the type ofthe tag 2. In the example embodiment, the information processing device3 can use a card-type tag as well as a figure-type tag such as the tag2. The tag ID is identification information that represents whether thetag is a figure-type tag or a card-type tag. In another embodiment, thetype of tag identified by the type ID is optional. For example, each oftag providers may be assigned a different type ID.

The use ID is identification information that specifies an applicationprogram that can use the dedicated data (described later in detail)stored on the tag 2 (i.e., specifies the above-described specificapplication program). Herein, an application program executable by theinformation processing device 3 is assigned a use ID. In the exampleembodiment, the figure ID is used to manage the use of the dedicateddata stored on the tag 2 (see a specific application/non-specificapplication determination process described later). In anotherembodiment, a use ID may be used to manage the use of the dedicated datastored on the tag 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the read/write data 22, initial registration dataand update data are stored as the shared data. The content of the shareddata stored on the tag 2 is optional. For example, in anotherembodiment, the tag 2 may store only either one of the initialregistration data and the update data as the shared data.

The initial registration data is data registered by the user at thestart of the use of the tag 2 by the information processing device 3.The initial registration data is typically stored on the tag 2 at thetiming when the tag 2 is first used, but may be stored on the tag 2 atan optional timing. Namely, the user 2 may register the tag 2 at anoptional timing

In the example embodiment, the initial registration data includes thefollowing data.

Avatar data

Nickname (data representing the nickname)

Registration date/time (data representing the registration date/time)

Region (data representing the region)

The avatar data is data on an avatar of the user. The avatar dataincludes data usable by the information processing device 3 to generatean avatar and display the avatar on the display unit 17. Specifically,the avatar data includes data representing each of parts of the avatar(shapes of the eye, nose and the like, body shape, etc.). In the exampleembodiment, the information processing device 3 stores a program forgenerating an avatar by use of the avatar data. In the exampleembodiment, the program for generating an avatar is stored in advance asa system program or a library of the information processing device 3.The avatar can be displayed in each of the application programs (by useof the avatar generation program).

In the example embodiment, the information processing device 3 stores aplurality of types of part data (image data or three-dimensional modeldata) for each of parts of the avatar in advance (the part data may beincluded in the avatar generation program). The plurality of types ofpart data are each assigned a number, and the avatar data representssuch a number assigned to the part data of each part included in theavatar. The information processing device 3 executes the avatargeneration program and thus is made capable of generating an avatar byuse of the part data having a number represented by the avatar data. Ascan be seen, in the example embodiment, an image is generated by adifferent method (process) for the avatar stored on the tag 2 from forthe character represented by the tag 2.

The nickname is a nickname given to the tag 2 by the user. In the casewhere, for example, one user possesses two or more tags having the sameexternal appearance, the user can give different nicknames to the tagsso as to distinguish the tags.

As described later in detail, at the time when an initial registrationprocess is executed on the tag (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 described later),the information processing device 3 causes the user to input the avatardata and the nickname. The input data and data on the registrationdate/time and on the region (described later) are stored on the tag 2 asthe initial registration data.

The registration date/time is the date/time when the initialregistration is performed. The region is the region where the initialregistration is performed. As described later in detail, in the exampleembodiment, the data on the registration date/time and on the region isautomatically written to the tag 2 by the information processing device3 in the initial registration process.

Now, information included in the update data will be described. Theupdate data is data that is updated when the tag 2 and the informationprocessing device 3 communicate with each other (under a certaincondition). In the example embodiment, the update data includes thefollowing data.

Number of times of write (data representing the number of times ofwrite)

Last-write device (data representing the last-write device)

Number of times of device change (data representing the number of timesof device change)

Last-used application (data representing the last-used application)

Last-write date/time (data representing the last-write date/time)

As described later in detail, in the example embodiment, the update datastored on the tag 2 is updated (overwritten) at the timing when thededicated data is written.

The number of times of write is the number of times the dedicated datahas been written on the tag 2.

The last-write device is the information processing device that wrotethe dedicated data to the tag 2 most recently. In the exampleembodiment, each of a plurality of information processing devices isassigned identification information specific thereto. Data on a hashvalue on the identification information on the information processingdevice that wrote data is stored as the data on the last-write device(alternatively, data on the identification information itself that wrotedata may be stored).

The number of times of device change is the number of times theinformation processing device that wrote the dedicated data was changed.As described later in detail, in the case where, for example, aninformation processing device possessed by the user writes data to thetag 2 and then an information processing device different from theinformation processing device possessed by the user (e.g., aninformation processing device installed in a store the user visits or aninformation processing device possessed by a friend of the user) writesdata to the tag 2, the number of times of device change is updated.

The last-used application is the application program that wrote thededicated data to the tag 2 most recently. In the example embodiment,the data stored as the data on the last-used application is theidentification information specific to the application program (may bethe use ID).

The last-write date/time is the date/time when the dedicated data waswritten to the tag 2 most recently.

Now, the management data will be described. The management data is dataused for management of the tag, and is used in, for example, an accesspermission/non-permission determination process or the like. Basically,the management data is not used in an application.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tag 2 stores data on version information in theread-only area 21 as the management data. The version informationrepresents a version of a data format (storage format) of the tag 2. Inthe example embodiment, the data storage format of the data on the tag 2varies on a version-by-version basis and that the same version has thesame data storage format. Specifically, in the example embodiment, whichdata is stored at which address of the tag 2 is defined on aversion-by-version basis (it should be noted that the address at whichthe data on the version information is stored is the same amongdifferent versions). Therefore, the information processing device 3 canspecify the address at which each piece of data is stored by referringto the version information. For example, a data size of each piece ofdata (size of a storage area of each piece of data) may be defined bythe version information, so that an address can be specified based onthe version information.

The tag 2 stores a first hash value and a second hash value as themanagement data (see FIG. 3). The first hash value corresponds to thedata in the read-only area 21. The second hash value corresponds to thedata in the read/write area 22. The hash values are obtained by applyinga predetermined algorithm (hash function) to the corresponding data. Thecontents of the data in the read-only area 21 are not changed, and thefirst hash value is not changed. Therefore, in the example embodiment,the data on the first hash value is stored in the read-only area 21.When the contents of the data in the read/write area 22 are changed, thesecond hash value is changed. Therefore, the data on the second hashvalue is stored in the read/write area 22.

In the example embodiment, the dedicated data and the shared data, amongthe data shown in FIG. 3, are encrypted by a method which allows theencrypted data to be decrypted by the information processing device 3(in the example embodiment, the communication control unit 32 describedlater). The dedicated data and the shared data may be encrypted by thesame method or different methods. Because of the encryption, even if thedata is read from the tag 2 by a device that does not have a decryptionfunction of the above-described method, such a device cannot decipherthe contents of the data. This can improve the security of the datastored on the tag 2. In another embodiment, the management data may alsobe encrypted, or at least one of the three types of data does not needto be encrypted.

2. Processing Operations of the Information Processing System

Now, with reference to FIG. 4 through FIG. 12, processing operations ofthe information processing system 1 regarding data read and write fromand to the tag 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, inthe example embodiment, the operations of the information processingdevice 3 will be described as being divided by function into theoperations of an application unit 31 and operations of the communicationcontrol unit 32. In the example embodiment, the application unit 31 isthe CPU 13 for executing a communication program as described above. Thecommunication control unit 32 is realized by the CPU 13 for executing anapplication program as described above, the communication chip 12 andthe communication unit 11. In another embodiment, the informationprocess performed by the information processing device 3 does not needto be realized by two types of programs, namely, the application programand the communication program, and may be realized by a single program.

(2-1: Operation of Reading Data)

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, an operation ofreading data from the tag 2 will be described. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 eachshow an example of flow of a process executed by the informationprocessing system 1 for reading data from the tag 2 by a specificapplication program. FIG. 4 shows a flow in the case where a specificapplication program is executed by the information processing device 3,namely, in the case where the application unit 31 is realized by the CPU13 that executes the specific application program. FIG. 5 shows a flowin the case where another application program that is not the specificapplication program is executed by the information processing device 3,namely, in the case where the application unit 31 is realized by the CPU13 that executes the another application program.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of flow of a process executedby the communication control unit 32 that has accepted a readinstruction (i.e., showing a read instruction process). The process ineach of steps in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 (also the flowcharts inFIG. 8, FIG. 10 and FIG. 12 described later) is merely exemplary. Aslong as substantially the same results are obtained, the order of theprocesses of the steps may be changed, or another process may beexecuted in addition to (or instead of) the process of each step. In theexample embodiment, the process of each step in the flowcharts will bedescribed as being executed by the CPU 13. Alternatively, the process ofa part of the steps in the flowcharts may be executed by a processerother than the CPU 13 or by a dedicated circuit.

First, the application unit 31 transmits a read instruction, which is toread data from the tag 2, to the communication control unit 32 (see FIG.4 and FIG. 5). In the example embodiment, the read instruction includesthe figure ID. As described above, the specific application programincludes information on the figure ID of the tag storing the dedicateddata usable in the specific application program itself. Therefore, theapplication unit 31 transmits the figure ID included in the specificapplication program together with the read instruction to thecommunication control unit 32.

The application program 31 transmits all the figure IDs included in thespecific application program. In the case where the type of the tag canbe specified, the application program 31 may transmit, to thecommunication control unit 32, only the figure ID of the tag among oneor more figure IDs included in the specific application program. Forexample, in the case where in a game situation of using a tagrepresenting a character operated by a player, data on the tag is to beread, the tag 2 connected to the information processing device 3 can bespecified as the tag representing the character. Therefore, in thiscase, the application unit 31 may transmit only the figure ID of the tag2 representing the character to the communication control unit 32.

In another embodiment, the application unit 31 may transmit the figureID to the communication control unit 32 at a different timing from thetiming when the read instruction is transmitted (this is applicable toother instructions including a write instruction). For example, inanother embodiment, the communication control unit 32 may request theapplication unit 31 to transmit the figure ID in a specificapplication/non-specific application determination process describedlater, and the application unit 31 may transmit the figure ID to thecommunication control unit 32 in response to the request.

Upon acceptance of the read instruction, the communication control unit32 starts execution of a series of processes of steps S1 through S7shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6 (read instruction process). First, instep S1, the communication control unit 32 executes a connection processin order to start communication with the tag 2. The specific content ofthe connection process is optional. For example, the communicationcontrol unit 32 executes a process of detecting the tag 2 present in thevicinity of the communication unit 11 (e.g., polling process) and aprocess of establishing communication with the detected tag 2 (e.g.,process of acquiring information to be used for data communication fromthe tag 2). Although not shown, in the case where the tag 2 is distancedfrom the information processing device 3 and it is made impossible toperform near field communication during the read instruction process(also in a registration instruction process or the write instructionprocess described later), the communication control unit 32 terminatesthe read instruction process and discontinues data transfer with theapplication unit 31.

In step S2, the communication control unit 32 executes a data readprocess. Specifically, the communication control unit 32 first reads themanagement data from the tag 2. Based on the version informationincluded in the read management data, the communication control unit 32specifies the address of each piece of data (data included in thededicated data and the shared data) in the tag 2. The method forspecifying the address based on the version information may be optional.For example, the version information itself may include information thatrepresents the correspondence between each piece of data and theaddress. Alternatively, the communication control unit 32 may store atable associating the correspondence and the version information inadvance, so that the communication control unit 32 can specify thecorrespondence by use of the version information read from the tag 2 andthe table.

Once the address of each piece of data included in the dedicated dataand the shared data is specified, the communication control unit 32reads the shared data and the dedicated data from the tag 2. Thecommunication control unit 32 decrypts and stores the read data on thememory 14. In this manner, in the example embodiment, the communicationcontrol unit 32 reads the shared data and the dedicated data from thetag 2 regardless of the content of the read instruction from theapplication unit 31 (which of the data stored on the tag 2 is to beread) and the type of the application program (whether or not theapplication program is the specific application program).

In step S3, the communication control unit 32 executes the accesspermission/non-permission determination process. The accesspermission/non-permission determination process is a process ofdetermining whether or not an access by the application program to beexecuted by the information processing device 3 to the tag with whichthe communication has been established is permissible. In other words,the access permission/non-permission determination process is a processof determining whether or not the tag with which the communication hasbeen established is a permitted tag. The “permitted tag” refers to atag, an access to which by the application program to be executed by theinformation processing device 3 is permitted. The permitted tag is, forexample, a tag permitted by a provider of the information processingdevice 3 (and/or of the application program executable by theinformation processing device 3). Namely, in the example embodiment, theapplication program on the information processing device 3 can accessonly the tag permitted by the provider, and cannot read/write datafrom/to an NFC tag that is not permitted by the provider.

In the example embodiment, the determination in the accesspermission/non-permission determination process is made by use of thehash values on the data stored on the tag 2 (first hash value and secondhash value). Specifically, the communication control unit 32 calculatesa hash value (first hash value) on the data that has been read in stepS2 from the read-only area 21 by use of the predetermined algorithm. Thecommunication control unit 32 determines whether or not the calculatedhash value matches the first hash value read in step S2. In the casewhere these two hash values match each other, the communication controlunit 32 makes a similar determination on the data that has been readfrom the read/write area 22 and the second hash value. Namely, thecommunication control unit 32 calculates a hash value (second hashvalue) on the data that has been read in step S2 from the read/writearea 22 by use of the predetermined algorithm, and determines whether ornot the calculated hash value matches the second hash value read in stepS2.

In the case where the calculated hash value matches the read second hashvalue, the communication control unit 32 determines that the tag 2 is apermitted tag. In this case, the communication control unit 32 executesa process of step S5. By contrast, in the case where the hash values donot match each other in one of the determinations, the communicationcontrol unit 32 determines that the tag 2 is not a permitted tag. Inthis case, the communication control unit 32 executes a process of stepS4.

As described above, in the example embodiment, the tag 2 stores the hashvalues (first hash value and second hash value) on a part of, or theentirety of, the data stored thereon. The communication control unit 32determines whether or not the tag 2 is a permitted tag based on the hashvalue calculated based on the data read from the tag 2 and the hashvalue read from the tag 2. The hash values are stored on the tag 2 asdescribed above, so that the determination on whether or not the tag 2is a permitted tag can be made easily.

In another embodiment, the determination in the accesspermission/non-permission determination process may be made by anothermethod. For example, the communication control unit 32 may store, inadvance, predetermined information stored on the tag 2 (also on the sideof the information processing device 3) and make the determination basedon whether or not the information read from the tag matches theinformation stored in advance. The predetermined information usable forthe determination may be, for example, the following information.

Information that is stored on an NFC tag and represents the type of thetag defined by the NFC standards (Type 1, Type 2, etc.)

Information (exclusive code) that represents that the tag 2 is a tagpermitted by the provider of the information processing device 3 (and/orof the application program executable by the information processingdevice 3)

Version information as described above

Alternatively, for example, the determination in the accesspermission/non-permission determination process may be made based onwhether or not the data stored in the read-only area 21 is adapted tothe setting specified by the version information. Still alternatively,for example, the determination in the access permission/non-permissiondetermination process may be made based on whether or not the size ofthe predetermined data read by the communication control unit 32 (e.g.,data stored in the read-only area 21) is within a predetermined range.

In step S4, the communication control unit 32 notifies the applicationunit 31 that the tag 2 is not a permitted tag. Upon receipt of thisnotification, the application unit 31 may perform an optional process.For example, the application unit 31 notifies the user that the tag 2 isnot a permitted tag and therefore data cannot be read. After the processof step S4, the communication control unit 32 terminates the readinstruction process shown in FIG. 6.

In step S5, the communication control unit 32 executes a specificapplication/non-specific application determination process. The specificapplication/non-specific application determination process is a processof determining whether or not the application program that issued theinstruction to the communication control unit 32 (herein, the readinstruction) is a specific application program.

The determination in the specific application/non-specific applicationdetermination process is made by use of the figure ID. Namely, thecommunication control unit 32 compares the figure ID acquired from theapplication unit 31 together with the instruction (in the case wherethere a plurality of figure IDs, one of the figure IDs) against thefigure ID read from the tag 2 in step S2. In the case where the figureIDs match each other, the communication control unit 32 determines thatthe application program that issued the instruction is a specificapplication program. In this case, the communication control unit 32executes a process of step S6. By contrast, in the case where the figureIDs do not match each other, the communication control unit 32determines that the application program that issued the instruction is anon-specific application program (application program that is not aspecific application program). In this case, the communication controlunit 32 executes a process of step S7.

In step S6, the communication control unit 32 transfers (outputs) thededicated data and the shared data to the application unit 31 (see FIG.4). Namely, in the case where the application program that issued theinstruction is a specific application program, the communication controlunit 32 permits the application unit 31 to receive the dedicated data.After the process of step S6 is finished, the communication control unit32 terminates the read instruction process shown in FIG. 6.

Upon receipt of the dedicated data and the shared data from thecommunication control unit 32, the application unit 31 executes aninformation process by use of the received data. The content of theinformation process is optional. For example, the application unit 31executes a game process by use of the saved data, which is the dedicateddata. In the example embodiment, the specific application program usesthe saved data, which is the dedicated data. Alternatively, the specificapplication program may use the shared data in addition to (or insteadof) the dedicated data.

In step S7, the communication control unit 32 transfers (outputs) theshared data to the application unit 31 (see FIG. 5). Namely, in the casewhere the application program that issued the instruction is anon-specific application program, the communication control unit 32restricts (prohibits) the application unit 31 from receiving thededicated data. After the process of step S7 is finished, thecommunication control unit 32 terminates the read instruction processshown in FIG. 6.

Upon receipt of the shared data from the communication control unit 32,the application unit 31 executes an information process by use of thereceived data. The content of the information process is optional. Forexample, the application unit 31 may execute the following processes.

Process of using the figure ID to display a character represented by thefigure ID (see FIG. 12)

Process of using the avatar data to display an avatar of the user (e.g.,process of executing a game using the avatar as a player character)

Process of storing the nickname on the information processing device 3and displaying the nickname at an appropriate timing

Process in accordance with the content of the update data (e.g., processof providing a benefit for the game in the case where the number oftimes of write is equal to or greater than a predetermined number oftimes; process of displaying the message “long time no see” in the casewhere the last-write date/time is before a predetermined time; etc.)

In the example embodiment, in the data output process of step S6 or S7,the communication control unit 32 outputs all of the shared data (andthe dedicated data) stored on the tag 2 to the application unit 31. Inanother embodiment, the application unit 31 may specify, in the readinstruction, the data to be acquired, and output the data specified inthe read instruction to the application unit 31 in the process of S6 ofS7. In the case where the data specified in the read instruction is thededicated data and it is determined in step S4 that the applicationprogram that issued the read instruction is a non-specific applicationprogram, the communication control unit 32 may notify the applicationunit 31 in step S7 that the data output (read) is restricted.

(2-2: Operation for Initial Registration)

Now, with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, an operation of writing theinitial registration data to the tag 2 will be described. FIG. 7 showsan example of flow of a process executed by the information processingsystem 1 for writing the initial registration data to the tag 2. FIG. 8is a flowchart showing an example of flow of a process executed by thecommunication control unit 32 that has accepted a registrationinstruction (i.e., showing a registration instruction process).

First, the application unit 31 outputs a registration instruction to thecommunication control unit 32, and the communication control unit 32accepts the registration instruction. The registration instruction is aninstruction to write the initial registration data to the tag 2. In theexample embodiment, the application unit 31 issuing the registrationinstruction is realized by a system application program (OS program) inthe information processing device 3. Namely, the initial registrationdata is written by the system application program (as a function of theinformation processing device 3). For example, an instruction to make aninitial registration to the tag 2 is issued by the user while the systemapplication program is executed (e.g., while a menu screen isdisplayed). In response to this instruction being accepted, theapplication unit 31 outputs the registration instruction.

In the example embodiment, only the system application can write theshared data. In another embodiment, another application (specificapplication and/or non-specific application) can write the shared data.

Upon acceptance of the registration instruction, the communicationcontrol unit 32 starts execution of a series of processes of steps S1through S3 and steps S11 through S13 shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8(registration instruction process). The processes of steps S1 through S3shown in FIG. 8 are the same as those shown in FIG. 6.

In the registration instruction process, in the case where thedetermination result in step S3 is positive (in the case where the tag 2is a permitted tag), a process of step S11 is executed. By contrast, inthe case where the determination result in step S3 is negative (in thecase where the tag 2 is not a permitted tag), a process of step S4 shownin FIG. 6 is executed.

In the registration instruction process, upon receipt of thenotification that the tag 2 is not a permitted tag as a result of theprocess of FIG. 4, the application unit 31, for example, notifies theuser that the tag 2 is not a permitted tag and therefore data cannot beregistered. After the process of step S4, the communication control unit32 terminates the registration instruction process shown in FIG. 8

By contrast, in step S11, the communication control unit 32 outputs anotification that the tag 2 is a permitted tag (permission notification)to the application unit 31. FIG. 7 shows a process executed in the casewhere the permission notification is output to the application unit 31.

Upon receipt of the permission notification, the application unit 31acquires the initial registration data to be written to the tag 2 (stepS21 shown in FIG. 7). In the example embodiment, the application unit 31accepts the avatar data and data on the nickname from the user, and alsoacquires the data on the registration date/time and on the region.Specifically, the application unit 31 prepares in advance a plurality ofcandidates of each part of the avatar (eyes, nose, etc.) and causes theuser to choose a desirable shape from the candidates. In this manner,the avatar data conformed to the instruction of the user can beacquired. The application unit 31 causes the user to input desiredletter information, so that the nickname can be acquired. Datarepresenting the current date/time and data representing the region(country) where the information processing device 3 exists are stored onthe information processing device 3, so that the application unit 31acquires these types of data. The application unit 31 transfers(outputs) the initial registration data thus acquired to thecommunication control unit 32.

In step S12, the communication control unit 32 acquires the initialregistration data from the application data 31. In another embodiment,the communication control unit 32 may acquire data specified by the user(avatar data and data on the nickname) from the application unit 31 andacquire the data stored on the information processing device 3 (data onthe current date/time and on the region) by the communication controlunit 32 itself.

In step S13, the communication control unit 32 executes a write processto the tag 2. In the example embodiment, the entirety of the data to bestored in the read/write area 22 is written to the tag 2 as one unit.Namely, the communication control unit 32 writes the dedicated data readin step S2, new shared data which includes the shared data read in stepS2 and the initial registration data, and the data on the second hashvalue to the tag 2. As the shared data excluding the initialregistration data, the data read and stored on the memory 14 in step S2is used. The addition of the initial registration data changes thecontents of the shared data. Therefore, in step S13, the communicationcontrol unit 32 calculates a hash value on the post-change shared data(shared data including the initial registration data), and writes thecalculated hash value to the tag 2 as a new second hash value. After theprocess of step S13, the communication control unit 32 terminates theregistration instruction process.

The above description is provided with an assumption that the initialregistration data is not stored on the tag 2. In the case where theinitial registration data is stored on the tag 2 also, substantially thesame registration instruction process as described above can be executedto update the contents of the initial registration data. In this case,in step S13, the communication control unit 32 writes the dedicated dataread in step S2, and new shared data obtained as a result of the initialregistration data included in the shared data read in step 2 beingupdated, to the tag 2. As described above, the application unit 31 maytransmit the registration instruction to the application unit 31 inorder to update the initial registration data already registered on thetag 2 as well as in order to newly write the initial registration datato the tag 2.

In another embodiment, the communication control unit 32 may execute theprocess of writing the initial registration data at the time ofperforming the near field communication with the tag in response to theread instruction or the write instruction. In the case where, forexample, data is read from the tag 2 in step S2 in the read instructionprocess, the communication control unit 32 may determine whether or notthe initial registration data is stored on the tag 2, and in the casewhere the initial registration data is not stored on the tag 2, thecommunication control unit 32 may make a notification to the applicationunit 31. In response to this notification, the application unit 31 mayexecute the process of step S21 and the communication control unit 32may execute the processes of steps S12 and S13. In this manner, thecommunication control unit 32 can write the initial registration data tothe tag 2 in the read instruction process (in the case where the initialregistration data has not been registered).

(2-3: Operation of Writing Data)

Now, with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, an operation of writing thededicated data (and the update data) to the tag 2 will be described.FIG. 9 shows an example of flow of a process executed by the informationprocessing system 1 for writing the dedicated data to the tag 2. FIG. 10is a flowchart showing an example of flow of a process executed by thecommunication control unit 32 that has received a write instruction(i.e., showing a write instruction process).

First, the application unit 31 transmits a write instruction, which isto write data to the tag 2, to the communication control unit 32 (seeFIG. 9 and FIG. 10). The write instruction includes the figure IDincluded in the application program in the application unit 31, like theread instruction described above.

Upon acceptance of the write instruction, the communication control unit32 starts execution of a series of processes shown in FIG. 10 (writeinstruction process). The processes of steps S1 through S6 in the writeinstruction process are substantially the same as those in the readinstruction process described above. As can be seen, in the exampleembodiment, data is read from the tag 2 before data is written to thetag 2. As described later in detail, the read data is appropriatelychanged, and the post-change data is written to the tag 2.

In the write instruction process, in the case where the determinationresult in step S5 is negative (in the case where the application programthat issued the write instruction is not a specific applicationprogram), a process of step S31 is executed. In step S31, thecommunication control unit 32 notifies the application unit 31 that thedata cannot be written. Upon receipt of this notification, theapplication unit 31 executes an optional process. For example, theapplication unit 31 executes a process of notifying the user that theconnected tag 2 is a not tag to which the application program that isbeing executed can write data. After the process of step S31, thecommunication control unit 32 terminates the write instruction process.

By contrast, in the case where the determination result in step S5 ispositive (in the case where the application program that issued thewrite instruction is a specific application program), a process of stepS6 is executed. Namely, the communication control unit 32 transfers(outputs) the dedicated data and the shared data to the application unit31 (see FIG. 9 and FIG. 10). As described above, the data to betransferred to the application unit 31 in step S6 is not limited to thededicated data and the shared data. For example, only the dedicated data(saved data) may be transferred. In the write instruction process, thecommunication control unit 32 may execute a process of notifying theapplication unit 31 that the data write is permitted instead of theprocess of step S6.

Upon receipt of the dedicated data and the shared data, the applicationunit 31 transfers the data to be written to the tag 2 (herein, saveddata) to the communication control unit 32. Namely, in step S32, thecommunication control unit 32 acquires the data to be written to the tag2 from the application unit 31.

In step S33, the communication control unit 32 generates update data tobe written to the tag 2. As described above, in the example embodiment,the update data is updated at the time when the dedicated data (saveddata) is written to the tag 2. Therefore, the communication control unit32 acquires (generates) data on the number of times of write, thelast-write device, the number of times of device change, the last-usedapplication, and the last-write date/time. Specifically, as the data onthe number of times of write, the communication control unit 32generates data representing a value that is obtained as a result of 1being added to the number of times of write represented by the updatedata read in step S2. As the data on the last-write device, thecommunication control unit 32 acquires data on the identificationinformation on the information processing device 3, which is stored onthe information processing device 3 itself (e.g., on the memory 14). Asthe data on the last-used application, the communication control unit 32acquires the data on the identification information on the applicationprogram that issued the write instruction (application ID) from thisapplication program. As the data on the last-write date/time, thecommunication control unit 32 acquires the current date/time. The dataon the number of times of device change is calculated as follows.

FIG. 11 shows an example of method for counting the number of times ofdevice change. FIG. 11 shows a case where the user first writes data(saved data) to the tag 2 by use of an information processing device 3 apossessed by the user at home. It is assumed that the number of times ofdevice change N at this point is “A”. Even if the user writes saved datato the tag 2 by use of the information processing device 3 a after this,the number of times of device change N remains “A”.

As shown in FIG. 11, after the saved data is written to the tag 2 by theinformation processing device 3 a, the user (moves with the tag 2 and)writes saved data to the tag 2 by use of another information processingdevice 3 b. The another information processing device 3 b is, forexample, an information processing device possessed by a friend of theuser, or an information processing device installed in a store for thepurpose of sales promotion or the like. At the time when the saved datais written to the tag 2 by the another information processing device 3b, the number of times of device change N is updated to “A+1”. Even ifsaved data is written to the tag 2 by the another information processingdevice 3 b after this, the number of times of device change N remains“A+1”.

As shown in FIG. 11, after this, the user (moves with the tag 2) andwrites saved data to the tag 2 by use of the information processingdevice 3 a possessed by the user. At the time when the saved data iswritten to the tag 2 by the information processing device 3 a, thenumber of times of device change N is updated to “A+2”.

As described above, in the example embodiment, in the case where theinformation processing device used to write data (saved data) theimmediately previously time is different from the information processingdevice used to write data (saved data) currently, the number of times ofdevice change is incremented by 1. By contrast, in the case where suchinformation processing devices are the same, the value of the number oftimes of device change is kept the same.

Therefore, in the process of step S33, the communication control unit 32determines whether or not the information on the last-write deviceincluded in the shared data (update data) read in step S2 represents theinformation processing device 3 that issued the current writeinstruction. Namely, the communication control unit 32 determineswhether or not the information on the last-write device included in theupdate data read in step S2 matches the information on the last-writedevice acquired in step S33 in the current cycle of operation. In thecase where the information processing devices match each other, thecommunication control unit 32 determines that the information processingdevice that wrote data was not changed, and keeps the value of thenumber of times of device change. Namely, the communication control unit32 sets the value of the number of times of device change read in stepS2 as the value of the number of times of device change to be written tothe tag 2. By contrast, in the case where the information processingdevices do not match each other, the communication control unit 32determines that the information processing device that wrote data waschanged, and increments the value of the number of times of devicechange. Namely, the communication control unit 32 sets a value that isobtained as a result of 1 being added to the number of times of devicechange read in step S2 as the value of the number of times of devicechange to be written to the tag 2.

In the example embodiment, the update data to be updated is acquired orgenerated as described above.

In step S34, the communication control unit 32 executes the writeprocess to the tag 2. As described above, in the example embodiment, theentirety of the data to be stored in the read/write area 22 is writtento the tag 2 as one unit. Namely, the communication control unit 32writes the new dedicated data acquired from the application unit 31 instep S32, and the shared data including the new update data acquired instep S33 to the tag 2. As the shared data excluding the update data, thedata read and stored on the memory 14 in step S2 is used. The change ofthe update data changes the contents of the shared data. Therefore, instep S34, the communication control unit 32 calculates a hash value onthe post-change shared data (shared data including the changed updatedata), and writes the calculated hash value to the tag 2 as a new secondhash value. After the process of step S34, the communication controlunit 32 terminates the write instruction process.

As described above, in the example embodiment, the update data isupdated in the wake of the dedicated data being written to the tag 2.Alternatively, the update data may be updated at an optional timing. Forexample, information on the read from the tag 2 may be included in theupdate date (see, “4. Modification examples” described later). In thiscase, the update data may be updated at the timing when the data is readfrom the tag 2. Namely, the communication control unit 32 may execute aprocess of generating new update data and writing the new update data tothe tag 2 after the process of step S6 or S7 in the read instructionprocess.

In the example embodiment, the communication control unit 32 writes theupdate data to the tag 2 regardless of whether or not the initialregistration data is stored on the tag 2. In the example embodiment, theinformation processing device 3 (communication control unit 32) maywrite the update data to the tag 2 under the condition that the initialregistration data is stored on the tag 2. In this case, the update data(e.g., number of times of write, etc.) from the time point when theinitial registration is performed can be recorded.

As described above, in the example embodiment, the entirety of main data(dedicated data and shared data) as one unit is read from, or writtento, the tag 2. Namely, when being read from the tag 2, the entirety ofthe main data is read (even when only a part of the main data needs tobe read). When data is to be written to the tag 2 (when the main data onthe tag 2 is to be rewritten), the entirety of the main data isrewritten (even when only a part of the main data needs to berewritten).

In another embodiment, data write or data read to or from the tag 2 maybe executed in predetermined units. For example, in the case where thestorage area of the tag 2 is divided into a plurality of blocks, thedata write or data read to or from the tag 2 may be executed on ablock-by-block basis.

(2-4: Process Example 1 by the Application Program)

Now, with reference to FIG. 12, an example of process executed by theCPU 13 (application unit 31) of the information processing device 3 inaccordance with an application program will be described. FIG. 12 is aflowchart showing an example of flow of a process executed by the CPU 13in accordance with an application program. The process shown in FIG. 12is started in response to, for example, the user issuing an instructionto start the application.

FIG. 12 shows a game process as an example of process executed inaccordance with an application program. In the example of process shownin FIG. 12, the character represented by the tag 2 is caused to appearin a game space by use of the shared data (figure ID and series ID)stored on the tag 2.

In step S41, the application unit 31 executes a game process inaccordance with an application program. The contents of the game processare optional. The process that is executed is, for example, a process ofcontrolling the operation of the character in a virtual space (gamespace) in response to an input of the user, or a process of controllingthe operation of another character in accordance with an algorithmdefined by the program.

In step S42, the application unit 31 determines whether or not tocommunicate with the tag 2. Namely, the application unit 31 determineswhether or not a predetermined game condition for communicating with thetag 2 has been fulfilled. The predetermined game condition is that agame situation in which the character represented by the tag 2 canappear is obtained; more specifically, that a player character hasadvanced to a predetermined stage; that a player character has acquireda predetermined item; or the like. The process of step S42 is executedat an appropriate timing while the game process is executed in step S41.Therefore, in the case where the determination result in step S42 isnegative, the process of step S41 is executed again, and the processesof steps S41 and S42 are repeated until the determination result in stepS42 becomes positive. By contrast, in the case where determinationresult in step S42 is positive, a process of step S43 described later isexecuted.

In step S43, the application unit 31 outputs a read instruction andreads data from the tag 2. Namely, as described above, the applicationunit 31 first outputs a read instruction to the communication controlunit 32 (see FIG. 4, etc.). In response to this read instruction, thecommunication control unit 32 communicates with the tag 2 (step S1), andtransfers the data read from the tag 2 to the application unit 31 (stepsS2, S6, S7). In this manner, the application unit 31 acquires the datafrom the tag 2. As described above, in the case where the applicationprogram that is being executed is a specific application program, thededicated data and the shared data are acquired. In the case where theapplication program that is being executed is a non-specific applicationprogram, the shared data is acquired. When the data from the tag 2 isacquired in step S43, a process of step S44 is executed.

Although not shown in FIG. 12, in the case where the tag 2 that isconnected to the information processing device 3 is not a permitted tag(in the case where the determination result in step S3 is negative), thecommunication control unit 32 notifies the application unit 31 that thetag 2 is not a permitted tag. In this case, the application unit 31, forexample, notifies the user that the data cannot be read, and restartsthe process of step S1.

In step S44, the application unit 31 determines whether or not thefigure ID acquired in step S43 corresponds to the character registeredin the application program that is being executed. The applicationprogram includes data for generating characters caused to appear in thegame by the tag 2. In the application program, information on a figureID associated with each of the characters is registered in advance. Thedetermination in step S44 is executed based on whether or not the figureID acquired in step S43 matches any one of the figure IDs registered inthe application program that is being executed. By contrast, in the casewhere the determination result in step S44 is positive, a process ofstep S46 described later is executed. In the case where thedetermination result in step S44 is negative, a process of step S45described later is executed.

In step S45, the application unit 31 determines whether or not theseries ID acquired in step S43 matches the series ID to be set for theapplication program that is being executed. In the application program,information on the series ID to be set for the application program isregistered in advance. Therefore, the application unit 31 determineswhether or not the series ID acquired in step S43 matches the series IDregistered in the application program that is being executed. In thecase where it is determined in step S45 that the two series IDs matcheach other, it is found that the character represented by the figure IDstored on the tag 2 is a character registered in the series to which theapplication program belongs (although not registered in the applicationprogram). In the case where the determination result in step S45 ispositive, the process of step S46 described later is executed. Bycontrast, in the case where the determination result in step S45 isnegative, a process of step S47 described later is executed.

In step S46, the application unit 31 executes a process of causing thecharacter represented by the figure ID to appear in the virtual space.In the case where the application unit 31 knows the characterrepresented by the figure ID stored on the tag 2 (in the case where thefigure ID is registered in the application program, namely, in the casewhere the determination result in step S44 is positive), the applicationunit 31 can cause the character to appear in the virtual space by use ofthe information in the application program thereof. Namely, theapplication unit 31 generates the character in the virtual space by useof the information in the application program thereof.

By contrast, in the case where the application unit 31 does not know thecharacter represented by the figure ID stored on the tag 2 (in the casewhere the figure ID is not registered in the application program,namely, in the case where the determination result in step S44 isnegative and the determination result in step S45 is positive), theapplication unit 31 cannot cause the character to appear in the virtualspace by use of the information in the application program thereof.Therefore, the application unit 31 uses the figure ID acquired from thetag 2 to specify the character represented by the figure ID and causesthe specified character to appear in the virtual space. For example, theapplication unit 31 accesses an external server, transmits the figure IDacquired from the tag 2 to the server, and receives data on thecharacter transmitted from the server in response thereto (data forgenerating the character). In the case where the application programthat is being executed is a specific application program, the data forgenerating the character may be included in the saved data so that theapplication unit 31 can generate the character by use of the saved data.

The process of step S46 of causing the character to appear in thevirtual space may be different between the case where the applicationprogram that is being executed is a specific application program and thecase where application program that is being executed is a non-specificapplication program. For example, in the case where the applicationprogram that is being executed is a specific application program, theapplication unit 31 may display the entirety of the characterrepresented by the tag 2 (displays the character as it is) on thedisplay unit 17. By contrast, in the case where the application programthat is being executed is a non-specific application program, theapplication unit 31 may display only a part of the character (e.g., thehat or the clothes of character represented by the tag 2 may be attachedto another character). Alternatively, in the case where the applicationprogram that is being executed is a specific application program, theapplication unit 31 may display the character represented by the tag 2on the display unit 17 in a normal display manner. By contrast, in thecase where the application program that is being executed is anon-specific application program, the application unit 31 may displaythe character in a display manner different from the normal displaymanner (e.g., display the character as a two heads high figure).

In step S47, the application unit 31 notifies the user that the tag 2 isnot usable in (does not correspond to) the application program that isbeing executed.

After step S46 or S47, the application unit 31 executes the process ofstep S1 again. After this, the series of processes shown in FIG. 12 arerepeated until a condition for terminating the game is fulfilled (e.g.,until the user issues an instruction to terminate the game).

(2-5: Process Example 2 by the Application Program)

Now, with reference to FIG. 13 through FIG. 17, other examples ofprocesses executed by the CPU 13 (application unit 31) of theinformation processing device 3 in accordance with application programswill be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of flow ofa process executed by the CPU 13 in accordance with a specificapplication program (specific application process). FIG. 16 is aflowchart showing an example of flow of a process executed by the CPU 13in accordance with an application program different from the specificapplication program (process of another application). Hereinafter, acase where a single tag 2 is used in a game executed by the specificapplication program and also in a game executed by another applicationprogram will be described. The processes shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 16are each started in response to, for example, the user issuing aninstruction to start the application.

First, with reference to FIG. 13 through FIG. 15, the specificapplication process will be described. The specific application processis executed as follows. First, in step S51, the application unit 31displays a character setting screen on the display unit 17. Thecharacter setting screen is for setting a player character operated bythe user (player). As described later in detail, in the specificapplication process, a pair of the avatar of the player and the playercharacter is displayed in the character setting screen (see FIG. 14).

In the specific application process shown in FIG. 13, the playercharacter is specified by use of the tag. Namely, in the state where thecharacter setting screen is displayed, the user holds the tag of thecharacter he/she wishes to operate against the information processingdevice 3 (antenna part of the information processing device) to causethe tag and the information processing device 3 to perform near fieldcommunication therebetween. The tag has the initial registration processalready executed thereon and has the avatar data of the user storedthereon. When the near field communication between the informationprocessing device 3 and the tag is made possible, the informationprocessing device 3 reads data from the tag, and sets the usercorresponding to the avatar data read from the tag as the player andalso sets the character of the tag as the player character of theplayer. In this manner, the pair of the player and the player characteris set. In the specific application process in the example embodiment,the above-described process of setting the pair of the player and theplayer character is executed in steps S52 and S53.

This will be described more specifically. In step S52, the applicationunit 31 executes a process of reading data from the tag. This process issubstantially the same as that shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6. Namely,the application unit 31 transfers a read instruction to thecommunication control unit 32. In response to this, the communicationcontrol unit 32 executes a communication process with the tag and thelike (steps S1 through S3, S5) to transfer the shared data and thededicated data to the application unit 31. As a result, the applicationunit 31 can acquire (read) the data from the tag.

In step S53, the application unit 31 sets a pair of a player and aplayer character. Specifically, the application unit 31 sets a playerbased on the avatar data among the data read in step S52. Namely, theavatar data is stored on the memory 14 as data specifying the player.The application unit 31 also sets a player character based on the figureID among the data read in step S52. Namely, the data on the figure IDamong the read data is stored on the memory 14 as the data representingthe player character corresponding to the player that has been set. Theapplication unit 31 further displays the pair of the player and theplayer character that has been set in the character setting screen.

FIG. 14 shows an example of character setting screen in the specificapplication process. As shown in FIG. 14, in the character settingscreen, an image 41 of the avatar of the player and an image 42 of theplayer character are displayed as being associated with each other. FIG.14 shows the character setting screen in the state where a first playerand his/her player character are set by use of the tag 2. Therefore, theimage 41 of the avatar and the image 42 of the player character aredisplayed in a field for the first player (the fields for the second andother players are blank). It is assumed that the game executable by thespecific application process shown in FIG. 13 can be played by fourplayers at the maximum. Therefore, fields for four players are set inthe character setting screen.

The image 41 of the avatar is generated by use of the avatar data readfrom the tag 2. As described above, the avatar (image of the avatar) isgenerated by the CPU 13 executing an avatar generation program preparedin the information processing device 3 in advance. In the exampleembodiment, the entire body of the avatar can be displayed by use theavatar data and the avatar generation program. In the specificapplication process, an image of a part (face) of the avatar isdisplayed. In FIG. 14, the name of the player (in FIG. 14, “Taro”) isdisplayed together with the image 41 of the avatar. In the case where,for example, the avatar data includes data representing the name of theuser, the name displayed in the character setting screen may be the namerepresented by the data. In another embodiment, the name displayed inthe character setting screen may be the above-described nicknameincluded in the initial registration data.

In step S54, the application unit 31 determines whether or not toterminate the setting of the player character. In the case where, forexample, the maximum number (herein, four) of player characters that canbe set have been set, or in the case where the user issues aninstruction to start the game, the application unit 31 determines toterminate the setting. By contrast, when the maximum number of playercharacters have not been set and further the user has not issued aninstruction to start the game, the application unit 31 determines not toterminate the setting. In the case where the determination result instep S54 is negative, the process of step S52 is repeated. In this case,a player different from the player who has already set his/her playercharacter holds his/her tag against the information processing device31, and a new pair of the player and a player character is set by theprocesses of steps S52 and S53. By contrast, in the case where thedetermination result in step S54 is positive, a process of step S55 isexecuted.

In step S55, the application unit 31 executes a game process. Thecontent of the game played by the game process is optional. In theexample embodiment, the correspondence between the players (avatars ofthe players) and the player characters is displayed even during thegame. FIG. 15 shows an example of game image displayed on the displayunit 17 by the specific application process. The game image shown inFIG. 15 displays a case where two players play the game. Namely, in thegame image, a game space in which a first player character 43 and asecond player character 44 appear is shown. The game image includesimages 45 and 46 each showing the correspondence between a player(avatar of the player) and a player character. FIG. 15 shows the gameimage displayed on the display unit 17 and also shows the image 45 thatis enlarged. The image 45 includes an image 47 of the avatar and animage 48 of the player character, and shows the image 47 of the avatarand the image 48 of the player character in the state where the image 47the image 48 are associated with each other. As shown in the images 45and 46, the image of the avatar and the image of the player characterare displayed as being associated with each other regarding each of theplayer-player character pairs.

The above-described game process is executed until a condition forterminating the game (e.g., the user issues an instruction to terminatethe game) is fulfilled. When the condition is fulfilled, the applicationunit 31 terminates the game and terminates the specific applicationprocess.

According to the specific application process, the user can easily setthe player character in the game by an operation of holding the tag 2against the information processing device 3. Also according to thespecific application process, the player character and the player(avatar of the player) are displayed as being associated with each other(see FIG. 14 and FIG. 15). Owing to this, each player can easilyrecognize the player character operated by himself/herself.

Now, with reference to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the process of the anotherapplication will be described. The process of the another application isexecuted as follows. First in step S61, the application unit 31 displaysa character setting screen on the display unit 17. As described late indetail, in the process of the another application, an avatar of a playeris set as a player character, and an image of the avatar is displayed inthe character setting screen (see FIG. 17).

In the process of the another application shown in FIG. 16, like in thespecific application process described above, the player character isspecified by use of the tag. Namely, in the state where the charactersetting screen is displayed, the user holds the tag storing data ofhis/her avatar against the information processing device 3 (antenna partof the information processing device) to cause the tag and theinformation processing device 3 to perform near field communicationtherebetween. When the near field communication between the informationprocessing device 3 and the tag is made possible, the informationprocessing device 3 reads data from the tag, generates an avatar by useof the data read from the tag, and sets the avatar as the player. In theprocess of the another application in the example embodiment, theabove-described process of setting the player character is executed insteps S62 and S63.

In step S62, the application unit 31 executes a process of reading datafrom the tag. The process of step S62 is substantially the same as thatof step S52.

In step S63, the application unit 31 sets a player character based onthe avatar data read in step S62. Specifically, the application unit 31acquires information for identifying the avatar (e.g., name of theavatar) from the avatar data read in step S62 and stores the informationfor identifying the avatar on the memory 14 as the data representing theplayer character. The application unit 31 also displays the playercharacter that has been set in the character setting screen.

FIG. 17 shows an example of character setting screen in the process ofthe another application. As shown in FIG. 17, in the character settingscreen, an image 50 of the avatar of the player, which is the playercharacter, is displayed. FIG. 17 shows the character setting screen inthe state where the player character of a first player is set by use ofthe tag 2. Therefore, the image 50 of the avatar is displayed in a fieldfor the first player (the fields for the second and other players areblank). It is assumed that the game executable by the process of theanother application shown in FIG. 16 can be played by four players atthe maximum. Therefore, fields for four players are set in the charactersetting screen.

The image 50 of the avatar is generated by use of the avatar data readfrom the tag 2 by the execution of an avatar generation program preparedin the information processing device 3 in advance like in the specificapplication process. In the process of the another application, theavatar is displayed in a display manner different from that in thespecific application process. Namely, in the process of the anotherapplication, the entire body of the avatar is displayed. In the processof the another process, like in the specific application process, thename of the player (in FIG. 17, “Taro”) is displayed together with theimage 50 of the avatar.

In step S64, the application unit 31 determines whether or not toterminate the setting of the player character. The determination in stepS64 may be made by substantially the same method as in step S54. In thecase where the determination result in step S64 is negative, the processof step S62 is repeated. In this case, a player different from theplayer who has already set his/her player character holds his/her tagagainst the information processing device 31, and a player character ofthe player, namely, a new player character, is set by the processes ofsteps S62 and S63. By contrast, in the case where the determinationresult in step S64 is positive, a process of step S65 is executed.

In step S65, the application unit 31 executes a game process. Thecontent of the game played by the game process is optional. In theexample embodiment, during the game, the player character, which is anavatar, appears and is controlled by the operation of the player. Theabove-described game process is executed until a condition forterminating the game (e.g., the user issues an instruction to terminatethe game) is fulfilled. When the condition is fulfilled, the applicationunit 31 terminates the game and terminates the specific applicationprocess.

In another embodiment, in the process of the another application, theapplication unit 31 may display the character represented by the tag 2and the avatar data (player information) stored on the tag 2 in thestate where the character and the avatar data are associated with eachother, like in the specific application process. For example, theapplication unit 31 may cause an avatar dressed like the characterrepresented by the tag 2 to appear as a player character. In the casewhere, for example, the tag 2 has an external appearance representing anitem, the application unit 31 may cause the avatar to appear as a playercharacter and have the player character carry the item represented bythe tag 2.

According to the process of the another application, the user can easilyset the player character in the game (more specifically, set his/heravatar as the player character) by an operation of holding the tag 2against the information processing device 3. By setting the avatar asthe player character, each player can easily recognize the playercharacter operated by himself/herself. According to the process of theanother application in the example embodiment, a single tag 2 is usableto cause a player character different from that in the specificapplication process to appear.

In the process of the another application, in one application program (aspecific application program or another application program), thecharacter represented by the tag, and also the avatar, may appear in thegame space. For example, a case in which a first tag representing acharacter and a second tag representing an avatar are prepared will bediscussed. The second tag does not represent any specific avatar, butrepresents a general appearance of an avatar; for example, representsonly a profile of the face and the body with no further details (eyes,nose, mouth). The second tag stores avatar data and also stores, as afigure ID, information representing that the character is an avatar(information representing that the character to appear in the game spaceis an avatar). In the case where near field communication is performedbetween the first tag and the information processing device 3 and anapplication is executed by use of the first tag, the informationprocessing device 3 causes a character represented by the first tag toappear in the virtual space (e.g., as a player character). By contrast,in the case where near field communication is performed between thesecond tag and the information processing device 3 and an application isexecuted by use of the second tag, the information processing device 3generates an avatar by use of the avatar data stored on the second tagand causes the avatar to appear in the virtual space (e.g., as a playercharacter). In the above, the application program may correspond only tothe second tag and may not correspond to the first tag (no characterrepresented by the first tag may appear).

In the example embodiment, the avatar data can be stored on the tag 2,so that the avatar data can be transferred between informationprocessing devices by use of the tag 2 (via the tag 2) (the transfer maybe mere transfer of the data, copying of the data, or exchange of thedata). Namely, after an information processing device stores avatar dataon the tag 2 (see the registration instruction process described above),another information processing device can acquire the avatar data byreading the data from the tag 2 by near field communication. Forexample, the user can store avatar data on his/her tag and, whenvisiting his/her friend, cause the friends information processing deviceto acquire the data from the user's tag. Thus, the user's avatar datacan be stored on the friends information processing device.

The transfer of the data on the user such as avatar data or the likebetween information processing devices may be performed another methodin addition to (or instead of) the above-described method. In the casewhere, for example, the information processing devices each include anetwork communication unit for performing network communication via anetwork such as the Internet or the like, the data may be transmitted orreceived between the information processing devices via the networkcommunication. In the case where the information processing devices eachinclude a wireless communication unit for performing wirelesscommunication such as infrared communication, Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) communication or the like, the data may be directlytransmitted or received between the information processing devices bythe wireless communication. In the case where the near fieldcommunication is possible between the information processing devices,the data may be transmitted or received between the informationprocessing devices by the near field communication. In the case wherethe information processing device that is to acquire the data includes acamera (unit for reading a two-dimensional barcode), the data may betransmitted or received between the information processing devices byuse of the two-dimensional barcode. Specifically, one of the informationprocessing devices may generate a two-dimensional barcode representingthe avatar data, and the other information processing device may readthe two-dimensional barcode to acquire the avatar data. According to themethod using the tag as in the example embodiment, the user can transferthe data by a simple operation of holding a tag against the informationprocessing device.

3. Functions and Effects of the Example Embodiment

As described above, in the example embodiment, the tag 2 includes astorage unit that stores application data that is usable in a specificapplication program (dedicated data) and shared data usable in anapplication program regardless of whether or not the application programis a specific application program. The communication control unit 32accepts an instruction regarding data read/write from/to the tag 2 fromthe application program to be executed by the information processingdevice 3. In the case where the accepted instruction is regarding thededicated data (e.g., instruction to read the dedicated data), under thecondition that the instruction is from a specific application program(step S5: Yes), the communication control unit 32 transfers thededicated data read from the tag 2 to the specific application program(step S6). In the case where the accepted instruction is regarding theshared data (e.g., instruction to read the shared data), thecommunication control unit 32 transfers the shared data read from thetag 2 to the specific application program that issued the instructionregardless of whether or not the instruction is from a specificapplication program (steps S6, S7).

Therefore, according to the example embodiment, the tag 2 is usable touse the dedicated data in the specific application program, and is alsousable to use the shared data in an application program that is notlimited to the specific application program. Owing to this, the numberof applications that can use the tag 2 is increased, and thus the tag 2can be used in a more versatile manner. The shared data is usable inanother application program other than the specific application programas well as in the specific application program, whereas the dedicateddata can be restricted from being used in the another applicationprogram. Therefore, fraudulent use of the dedicated data in the anotherapplication program can be prevented.

In the example embodiment, the tag 2 stores the identificationinformation set for each type of tag (figure ID). The specificapplication program includes the figure ID set for the tag that storesthe dedicated data usable in the specific application program itself.The communication control unit 32 determines whether or not the acceptedinstruction is from the specific application program based on the figureID read from the tag 2 and the figure ID acquired from the applicationprogram. Owing to this, it can be determined easily whether or not theaccepted instruction is from the specific application program.

For making the above-described determination by use of the figure ID,the specific application program may access only a predetermined type oftag among the tags usable in the specific application program itself.Namely, the specific application program may transmit, to thecommunication control unit 32, the figure IDs of all the tags usable inthe application program itself, so that the specific application programcan access an optional tag usable in the specific application programitself. Alternatively, the application program may transmit, to thecommunication control unit 32, a part of the figure IDs of the tagsusable in the application program itself, so that the specificapplication program can limit the tag(s) accessible by the specificapplication program itself among the tags usable in the specificapplication program itself. In this manner, for executing the specificapplication/non-specific application determination process by use of thefigure ID, it can be determined whether or not the tag connected to theinformation processing device 3 is permitted to be accessed by thespecific application program, in addition to determining whether or notthe application program that has issued the instruction is a specificapplication program.

In the example embodiment, the tag 2 stores the shared data that is onthe object (character) appearing in a predetermined application program(specific application program) and is usable in the specific applicationprogram or a non-specific application program. For executing thespecific application program, the information processing device 3 usesthe shared data read from the tag 2 and thus executes a first process ofdisplaying the object on the display unit 17 (process of displaying theentirety of the character) (step S46). For executing an applicationprogram that is not the specific application program (non-specificapplication program), the information processing device 3 uses theshared data read from the tag 2 and thus executes a second processdifferent from the first process (executes a process of displayinganother character wearing the clothes of the above character) (stepS46).

According to the above, the tag 2 is usable to use the shared data inthe predetermined application program and also in another applicationprogram. Owing to this, the number of applications that can use the tag2 is increased, and thus the tag 2 can be used in a more versatilemanner.

The first process and the second process are not limited to being aprocess of displaying an object, and may be an optional process ofoutputting information on the object. The information on the object maybe, for example, an image representing the object, or a sound on theobject (voice or theme tune of the character). In the case where, forexample, a theme tune is set for the character represented by the tag 2,the first process and/or the second process may be a process ofoutputting the theme tune from the speaker (e.g. as BGM).

When near field communication is made possible between the communicationcontrol unit 32 and a certain tag 2, the communication control unit 32determines whether or not the tag is a permitted tag, an access to whichby the application program to be executed by the information processingdevice 3 is permitted (step S3). In the case where it is determined thatthe tag with which near field communication is made possible is apermitted tag, the communication control unit 32 executes a process inconformity to the instruction (read instruction, etc.) from theapplication program to be executed by the information processing device3 (steps S6, S7). In other words, the communication control unit 32permits the shared data to be used in the application program to beexecuted by the information processing device 3 under the condition thatthe tag with which near field communication is made possible is apermitted tag. Owing to this, data on the permitted tag is usable inanother application program different from the specific applicationprogram, whereas the another application program can be prevented fromreading data from a tag that is not a permitted tag.

In the example embodiment, the information processing device 3 executes,as the second process, a process of displaying an object (character)displayed in the first process in a manner different from in the firstprocess (e.g., displays only a part of the object, or displays theobject as a two heads high figure) (step S46). Owing to this, the objectcan be displayed in a display manner suitable to the application, andthus the versatility of the tag (versatility of the data stored on thetag) can be further improved.

In another embodiment, when executing a game application programdifferent from the predetermined application program (non-specificapplication program), the information processing device 3 may execute aprocess that does not influence the progress of the game as the secondprocess. For example, as described in the above embodiment, theinformation processing device 3 may execute a process of changing onlythe appearance of a character different from the character representedby the tag 2 (e.g., changing the clothes) but not changing a gameparameter that influences the progress of the game (e.g., parameter ofthe strength of the character, etc.). As can be seen, the second processmay use the shared data in a supplementary manner unlike the firstprocess. This allows a developer of the application program to make theshared data usable in a more versatile manner in the second process, andthus the versatility of the tag is improved.

In the example embodiment, the tag 2 has an external appearance thatrepresents, three-dimensionally (or two-dimensionally), the object(character) appearing in the virtual space that is generated byexecution of a predetermined application program (specific applicationprogram) by the information processing device 3 (FIG. 2). The tag 2stores first identification information (figure ID) on the object andsecond identification information (series ID) on the group to which theobject belongs. The information processing device 3 uses the figure IDread from the tag 2 to execute a predetermined process (process ofdisplaying the character represented by the figure ID (step S46)) andalso uses the series ID read from the tag 2 to execute the predeterminedprocess.

According to the above, the application program to be executed by theinformation processing device 3 can execute the predetermined process byuse of either the figure ID or the series ID. Namely, even in the casewhere the figure ID is not usable (the figure ID is not registered), theseries ID can be used to execute the predetermined process (as long asthe series ID is registered). As can be seen, the example embodimentallows the application program to execute the predetermined process moreeasily and allows the tag to be used more easily by a larger number ofapplications. Thus, the versatility of the tag is improved.

While executing the application program, the information processingdevice 3 determines whether or not the figure ID read from the tag 2represents the value registered in the application program that is beingexecuted (step S44). The information processing device 3 also determineswhether or not the series ID read from the tag 2 represents the valueregistered in the application program that is being executed (step S45).The predetermined process (step S46) is executed in the case where atleast one of the figure ID and the series ID read from the tag 2represents the value registered in the application program that is beingexecuted (FIG. 12). Owing to this, as long as one of the figure ID andthe series ID is registered in the application program, the applicationprogram can execute the predetermined process. This allows the tag to beused more easily by a larger number of applications. Thus, theversatility of the tag is improved.

In the example embodiment, the predetermined process is a processregarding the object (character). In the case where the figure ID readfrom the tag 2 represents the value registered in the applicationprogram that is being executed, the information processing device 3specifies the object by use of the figure ID (step S46). In the casewhere the figure ID read from the tag 2 does not represents the valueregistered in the application program that is being executed (step S45:No) and the series ID read from the tag 2 represents the valueregistered in the application program that is being executed (S45: Yes),the information processing device 3 specifies the object by use of theseries ID. Owing to this, even in the case where the figure ID is notusable, the object can be specified by use of the series ID, and thepredetermined process regarding the object can be executed.

(Functions and Effects of the Application Process Shown in FIG. 13 andFIG. 16)

In the example embodiment, the tag 2 stores object information (figureID, etc.) on an object represented by the external appearance of the tag2 itself. The information processing device 3 writes, to the tag 2,character image information (avatar data) specifying an image of thecharacter (avatar) created based on an instruction of the user (stepS13). The information processing device 3 also executes a predeterminedprocess (game process of steps S53, S55, S63 or S65) by use of theobject information and the character image information read from the tag2.

According to the above, information specifying the image of the user'savatar can be written to the tag having an external appearancerepresenting an object. Then, a process is executed by use of theinformation on the object and the information on the avatar. Owing tothis, the tag having the information on the object can be used in alarger number of uses, and thus the tag can be used in a more versatilemanner. In the case where, for example, the object represented by thetag is used as a player character, the avatar of the player operatingthe player character can be displayed with the player character (seeFIG. 14, FIG. 15) or the avatar of the player can be used as the playercharacter (FIG. 17).

In the example embodiment, the predetermined process is executed byexecution of the specific application program. In another embodiment,the predetermined process may be executed by execution of an applicationprogram that is different from the specific application program. Thepredetermined process may be executed by use of both of the objectinformation and the character image information. The informationprocessing device may execute a first process using the objectinformation (read from the tag) and a second process of executing aprocess using the character image information (read from the tag).

The “tag having an external appearance representing the object thatappears in the virtual space” is not limited to a tag representing oneobject that appears in the virtual space in detail, and may be a tagrepresenting a general appearance of the object that appears in thevirtual space. Namely, the “tag having an external appearancerepresenting the object that appears in the virtual space” may have anexternal appearance representing the object to a degree at which theobject is distinguishable from another object. For example, theabove-described second tag representing the avatar does not represent aspecific avatar but represents a general appearance of an avatar.Namely, the second tag does not need to represent each of parts of theavatar accurately but may have an external appearance representing onlya profile of the face and the body with no eyes, nose or mouth.Alternatively, the second tag may have an external appearancerepresenting each part which has a predefined standard shape. In thiscase, the second tag does not precisely match the avatar generated basedon the avatar data but may be considered as representing a generalappearance of the avatar. The concept of the “tag having an externalappearance representing the object that appears in the virtual space”encompasses such a second tag.

In the example embodiment, the information processing device 3 executes,as the predetermined process, a process of displaying at least a part ofthe object (player character) and at least a part of the character(avatar) on the display unit 17 in the state where the part of theobject and the part of the character are associated with each other(steps S53, S55). Owing to this, the relationship between the objectstored on the tag and the user (character of the user) can be presentedin an easy-to-understand manner. The above-described process may be aprocess of displaying the player character and the avatar in thecharacter setting screen as shown in FIG. 14 in the state where theplayer character and the avatar are associated with each other, or maybe a process of displaying the player character and the avatar duringthe game in the state where the player character and the avatar areassociated with each other. The above-described process may be a processof, in the state where the avatar is the player character, causing theplayer character to appear as being dressed like the object representedby the tag or causing the player character to appear as carrying an itemrepresented by the tag.

In the example embodiment, the object represented by the tag is theplayer character to be operated by the user, and the character createdbased on the instruction of the user is the character corresponding tothe user that operates the player character. Owing to this, the tag canbe used in a more versatile manner; for example, the operation ofsetting a pair of the player and the player character can be performedby use of the tag.

In the example embodiment, the character image information isinformation specifying the image of the avatar of the user (avatardata). More specifically, the information specifying the image of theavatar is information specifying an image of each of parts included inthe avatar. Owing to this, the information processing device can easilygenerate the avatar based on such information.

In the example embodiment, the information processing device 3 executesthe predetermined application program (specific application program) toexecute an appearance process of causing an object that appears in thevirtual space (game space) by use of the object information read fromthe tag (step S55). Owing to this, the user can feel as if an actualobject represented by the tag appeared in the virtual space. Thus, theapplication can be more entertaining.

The information processing device executes another application programdifferent from the predetermined application program (specificapplication program) to cause the character (avatar) to appear in thevirtual space by use of the character image information (avatar data)read from the tag (step S65). Owing to this, the character (avatar) ofthe user stored on the tag can appear in the virtual space, and thus theapplication can be more entertaining. In addition, a single tag isusable to cause a different character to appear in the virtual spacewhile the predetermined application program is being executed from whileanother application program is being executed (step S65).

In the example embodiment, the tag 2 stores object information on theobject (figure ID, etc.) represented by the external appearance of thetag 2 itself and information on the user (avatar data). The informationprocessing device 3 displays the object and information on the user onthe display unit in the state where the object and the information onthe user are associated with each other by use of the object informationand the user information read from the tag 2 (steps S53, S55). Owing tothis, the relationship between the object and the user (character of theuser) stored on the tag can be presented in an easy-to-understandmanner.

In the example embodiment, the user information is informationspecifying a character that is different from the object represented bythe external appearance of the tag 2 and corresponds to the user(specifying the avatar). The information processing device executesanother application program different from the predetermined applicationprogram (specific application program) to cause the character (avatar)specified by the user information read from the tag 2 to appear in thevirtual space (step S65). Owing to this, the character (avatar) of theuser stored on the tag can appear in the virtual space, and thus theapplication can be more entertaining. In addition, a single tag isusable to cause a different character to appear in the virtual spacewhile the predetermined application program is being executed from whileanother application program is being executed.

The user information is not limited to the avatar data in the aboveembodiment and may be any information representing the user, forexample, the name, the nickname, the figure ID or the like of the user.

4. Modification Examples Modification Example of the SpecificApplication/Non-Specific Application Determination Process

In the above example, the determination in the specificapplication/non-specific application determination process is executedby use of the figure ID. In another embodiment, the determination may beexecuted by use of the use ID described above. Hereinafter, amodification example in which the specific application/non-specificapplication determination process is executed by use of the use ID willbe described.

In this modification example, for reading or writing the dedicated datafrom or to the tag 2, the application unit 31 first causes the use ID tobe included in an instruction (read instruction, write instruction,etc.) and transmits the instruction to the communication control unit32. Namely, the application program includes information on the use IDto be set therefor. When issuing an instruction to the communicationcontrol unit 32, the application unit 31 transfers (outputs) aninstruction including the use ID to the communication control unit 32.Owing to this, the communication control unit 32 can acquire the use IDof the application program. The application unit 31 may transfer the useID to the communication control unit 32 at an optional timing. Forexample, in another embodiment, the communication control unit 32 mayrequest the application unit 31 for the use ID in the specificapplication/non-specific application determination process, and inresponse to the request, the application unit 31 may transmits the useID to the communication control unit 32.

In another embodiment, the communication control unit 32 may specify theuse ID by use of a table that associates an application ID specific toan application program (different from the use ID) and the use ID setfor the application program regarding each of the application programs.Namely, the communication control unit 32 may store the table inadvance, acquire the application ID together with the read instructionfrom the application unit 31, and determine that the use ID associatedwith the acquired application ID as the use ID of the applicationprogram.

In the specific application/non-specific application determinationprocess, the communication control unit 32 compares the use ID acquiredtogether with the instruction from the application unit 31 against theuse ID read from the tag 2 in step S2. In the case where the use IDsmatch each other, the communication control unit 32 determines that theapplication program that issued the instruction is the specificapplication program. By contrast, in the case where the use IDs do notmatch each other, the communication control unit 32 determines that theapplication program that issued the instruction is a non-specificapplication program.

As in the modification example described above, the tag 2 may store atleast one type of identification information specifying the specificapplication program that can use the dedicated data (use ID). Thecommunication control unit 32 accepts the use ID, corresponding to theapplication program that issued the instruction, from this applicationprogram. The communication control unit 32 determines whether or not theaccepted instruction is from the specific application program based onthe use ID stored on the tag 2 and the use ID acquired from theapplication program that issued the instruction (step S5). Owing tothis, it can be easily determined whether or not the acceptedinstruction is from the specific application program.

(Modification Example in which a Free Data Area is Set on the Tag)

In another embodiment, the tag 2 may include a free data area inaddition to the data areas shown in FIG. 3 (dedicated data area, shareddata area, and management data area). Hereinafter, with reference toFIG. 18, an example in which a free data area is set on the tag 2 willbe described as an example of the above embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows an example of data stored on the tag 2 in a modificationexample of the example embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, in thismodification example, a free data area is set in the read/write area 22of the tag 2. The free data area is an area to which an applicationprogram other than the specific application program (non-specificapplication program) can write data. At the time of shipping of the tag2, no data is basically stored in the free data area. In the case where,for example, game data is to be provided as a benefit to a user whopurchases the tag, some data may be stored in the free data area.

The application unit 31 that executes a non-specific application programwrites data (saved data) to the tag 2 as follows. First, the applicationunit 31 transmits a write instruction to the communication control unit32. Like in the specific application/non-specific applicationdetermination process in the above modification example, the writeinstruction includes the use ID of the application program. In responseto the write instruction, the communication control unit 32 executesprocesses substantially the same as those in the above embodiment (stepsS1 through S6, S31) (in step S5, the communication control unit 32executes a process substantially the same to that in the specificapplication/non-specific application determination process using the useID in the above modification example). Namely, the communication controlunit 32 accesses the tag 2, reads the data and transfers the read data(shared data) to the application unit 31. The application unit 31transfers the saved data to be written to the tag 2 to the communicationcontrol unit 32.

Upon receipt of the saved data from the application unit 31, thecommunication control unit 32 writes the use ID acquired together withthe write instruction and the received saved data to the tag 2 in thestate where the use ID and the saved data are associated with each other(FIG. 18). In the tag 2, the data to be written and the use ID may beassociated with each other in an optional method. For example, a methodby which the free data area is managed as being divided into a pluralityof blocks may be used. One block includes a data area to which the saveddata is to be written and an ID area to which the use ID of theapplication program corresponding to the saved data is to be written.The communication control unit 32 writes the saved data to the data areaof one block and also writes the use ID to the ID area of the block. Asa result, the saved data and the use ID are stored as being associatedwith each other. Depending on the data size of the saved data, thecommunication control unit 32 may write the data to two or more blocks.In this case, the same use ID is written to the ID area of each of theblocks to which the saved data is written.

In this modification example also, the update data may be updated at thetiming when the saved data is written, like in the above embodiment.

The application unit 31 that executes a non-specific application programreads the saved data from the tag 2 as follows. The application unit 31transmits a read instruction to the communication control unit 32. Likein the above modification example, the read instruction includes the useID of the application program. In response to the read instruction, thecommunication control unit 32 executes processes substantially the sameas those of steps S1 through S4.

In this modification example, in the case where it is determined thatthe tag 2 is not a permitted tag in the access permission/non-permissiondetermination process of step S3 in the above embodiment, thecommunication control unit 32 executes the following determinationprocess as the specific application/non-specific applicationdetermination process of step S5. The communication control unit 32determines whether or not the use ID included in the read instructionmatches the use ID stored in the free data area of the tag 2. Thedetermination process is executed in order to determine whether or notthe application program that issued the read instruction is theapplication program corresponding to the saved data in the free dataarea of the tag 2.

It is determined that the two use IDs match each other in thedetermination process, the communication control unit 32 transfers theshared data and the saved data stored in association with the matchinguse IDs to the application unit 31. Owing to this, the applicationprogram that wrote the saved data to the free data area of the tag 2 canread the saved data from the tag 2. By contrast, in the case where thetwo use IDs do not match each other, the communication control unit 32transfers the shared data (only the shared data) to the application unit31.

As described above, in another embodiment, an application program otherthan the specific application program may be allowed to write the datato the tag 2. Namely, the tag 2 may include a storage area (dedicateddata area) from/to which data can be read/written by the predeterminedapplication program (specific application program), a storage area(shared data area) from which data can be read by an application programregardless of whether or not the application program is thepredetermined application program, and a storage data (free data area)to which data can be written by an application program regardless ofwhether or not the application program is the predetermined applicationprogram. Owing to this, the number of types of application programs thatcan write data to the tag 2 is increased. Thus, the versatility and theconvenience of the tag 2 can be further improved.

In the above modification example, the communication control unit 32writes data to the free data area of the tag 2 in response to aninstruction to the application program as follows. The communicationcontrol unit 32 stores the data to be written and the use ID of theapplication program on the tag 2 in the state where the data and the useID are associated with each other. When accepting, from the applicationprogram, a read instruction on the data stored in the free data area,the communication control unit 32 determines whether or not to transferthe data to the application program based on the use ID included in theaccepted read instruction and the use ID that is associated, with thedata to be read, in the free data area of the tag 2. Owing to this, thedata stored in the free data area of the tag 2 can be managed to be readby the application programs corresponding to the data (applicationprogram that wrote the data and application program for which the sameuse ID as that of the former application program is set).

In the above modification example, the data (and the use ID) written tothe free data area may be allowed to be deleted by the informationprocessing device 3. For example, in response to an instruction from thesystem application program that received a delete instruction, thecommunication control unit 32 may delete the data indicated by thedelete instruction from the tag 2. Owing to this, even when the freedata area of the tag 2 becomes full, a new free area can be generated sothat another piece of data can be written. In another embodiment, thetag 2 may store information indicating whether or not the data stored inthe free data area can be deleted, in the state where the information isassociated with the data.

(Modification Example Regarding the External Appearance of the Tag)

In the above embodiment, the tag 2 is a figure-type tag that representsa character three-dimensionally. The shape of the tag is not limited tothis, and the tag may have an optional shape. For example, the tag 2 maybe a card-type tag on which a picture of the character is drawn (tagwhich represents the character two-dimensionally). As can be seen, thetag may have an external appearance that represents, three-dimensionallyor two-dimensionally, an object that appears in a predeterminedapplication program (in other words, an object represented by the datastored on the tag (dedicated data and/or shared data)). Owing to this,an object that can be cause to appear in an application by use of thetag 2 is recognizable by the user in an easy-to-understand manner. Inthe case where the object is displayed on the display unit 17, the userfeels as if a real object appeared in the virtual space. Thus, theapplication can be more entertaining.

(Modification Example Regarding the Shared Data)

In the above embodiment, FIG. 3 shows an example of data included in theshared data. The data included in the shared data is optional. Inanother embodiment, the initial registration data may include data on amessage input by the user. The message is, for example, read by theapplication program executed by the information processing device 3 anddisplayed on the display unit 17.

For example, the initial registration data may include identificationinformation on the user of the information processing device 3. Theidentification information on the user is, for example, a user ID on anetwork service using the information processing device 3 (e.g., serviceproviding an application via a network). When, for example, the useraccesses an information processing device available outside his/herhouse by use of a tag, the information processing device reads the ID ofthe user from the tag and notifies the server that the user accessed theinformation processing device. In this manner, the server can manage theinformation processing device accessed by the user by use of the tag.For example, an information processing device may be installed at thevenue of an event. When the user accesses the information processingdevice by use of the tag, the server learns that the user isparticipated in the event. For example, the server may provide the userwith a predetermined service or benefit on the network service inresponse to the notification from the information processing device.

In the above embodiment, the update data includes information regardingthe write to the tag 2 (number of times of write, last-write device,number of times of device change, last-used application, and last-writedate/time). In another embodiment, the update data may includeinformation on the read from the tag 2. For example, the update data mayinclude information such as the number of times of data read from thetag 2 (number of times the tag has been accessed), the informationprocessing device that read data from the tag 2 most recently, thenumber of times the information processing device that read the data hasbeen changed, the application program that read data from the tag 2 mostrecently, the date/time when the data read from the tag 2 was performedmost recently, and/or the like.

In the above embodiment, information on the most recent write to the tag2 (last-write device, last-used application, and last-write date/time)is included in the update data. In another embodiment, the update datamay include information on the history of the data write to the tag 2.For example, the update data may include information on the history ofthe information processing devices that wrote data to the tag 2 (thedata may be dedicated data), the history of the application programsthat wrote data to the tag 2 (the data may be dedicated data), and/orthe history of the date/time when the data was written to the tag 2 (thedata may be dedicated data). In still another embodiment, information onthe history of the data read from the tag 2 may be included in theupdate data.

For example, in another embodiment, the information processing devicesthat wrote data to the tag 2 may be managed as being divided into a“home” information processing device and an “away” informationprocessing device, by use of the update data. The “home” informationprocessing device is the information processing device that wrote theinitial registration data, and is typically the information processingdevice possessed by the user. The “away” information processing deviceis an information processing device other than the “home” informationprocessing device, and is typically an information processing devicepossessed by a friend of the user or an information processing deviceinstalled in a store or at a venue of an event. The update data mayinclude the number of times of write made by the “home” informationprocessing device and the number of times of write made by the “away”information processing device. Owing to this, an information processsuitable to the state of use of the “home” information processing deviceand the “away” information processing device can be executed.

In another embodiment, the update data may include flag data that is set“ON” when a predetermined condition is fulfilled. The predeterminedcondition is that, for example, a specific information processing deviceinstalled in a store or at a venue of an event accesses the tag. Namely,the flag data stored on the tag 2 is updated to a value representing“ON” by the specific information processing device. Owing to this,information indicating that the user visited the store or the event isstored on the tag. Therefore, the application program can execute aprocess using such information (e.g., process of providing a benefit tothe user who visited a specific event).

(Modification Example Regarding the Structure of the InformationProcessing System)

In another embodiment, in the case where the tag 2 includes aninformation processing unit, a part of the process which would otherwisebe executed by the information processing device 3 may be executed onthe tag 2 side. For example, the process which would otherwise beexecuted by the communication control unit 32 (a part of, or theentirety of, the process) may be executed by the information processingunit of the tag 2. In the above embodiment, the communication controlunit 32 actually reads dedicated data from the tag 2 and manages thetransfer of the dedicated data to the application unit 31, and thus theread of the dedicated data from the tag 2 by the application unit 31 isrestricted. By contrast, in the case where the process which wouldotherwise be executed by the communication control unit 32 is executedon the tag 2 side, the read of the dedicated data from the tag 2 by theinformation processing device 3 is literally restricted.

The systems, devices and apparatuses described herein may include one ormore processors, which may be located in one place or distributed in avariety of places communicating via one or more networks. Suchprocessor(s) can, for example, use conventional 3D graphicstransformations, virtual camera and other techniques to provideappropriate images for display. By way of example and withoutlimitation, the processors can be any of: a processor that is part of oris a separate component co-located with the stationary display and whichcommunicates remotely (e.g., wirelessly) with the movable display; or aprocessor that is part of or is a separate component co-located with themovable display and communicates remotely (e.g., wirelessly) with thestationary display or associated equipment; or a distributed processingarrangement some of which is contained within the movable displayhousing and some of which is co-located with the stationary display, thedistributed portions communicating together via a connection such as awireless or wired network; or a processor(s) located remotely (e.g., inthe cloud) from both the stationary and movable displays andcommunicating with each of them via one or more network connections; orany combination or variation of the above.

The processors can be implemented using one or more general-purposeprocessors, one or more specialized graphics processors, or combinationsof these. These may be supplemented by specifically-designed ASICs(application specific integrated circuits) and/or logic circuitry. Inthe case of a distributed processor architecture or arrangement,appropriate data exchange and transmission protocols are used to providelow latency and maintain interactivity, as will be understood by thoseskilled in the art.

Similarly, program instructions, data and other information forimplementing the systems and methods described herein may be stored inone or more on-board and/or removable memory devices. Multiple memorydevices may be part of the same device or different devices, which areco-located or remotely located with respect to each other.

The example embodiment is usable as, for example, a game device or agame system for executing a game application or the like or a storagedevice or the like storing game data for the purpose of, for example,using a storage device in a more versatile manner.

While certain example systems, methods, devices and apparatuses havebeen described herein, it is to be understood that the appended claimsare not to be limited to the systems, methods, devices and apparatusesdisclosed, but on the contrary, are intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing system, comprising: astorage device having an external appearance that represents an objectthat appears in a game; and an information processing device forperforming near field communication with the storage device; wherein:the storage device stores object information on the object; and at leastone processor included in the information processing device executes:writing avatar information representing an avatar of a user to thestorage device; and displaying the object and the avatar in the statewhere the object and the avatar are associated with each other using theobject information and the avatar information stored on the storagedevice.
 2. An information processing system, comprising: a storagedevice; and an information processing device for performing near fieldcommunication with the storage device; wherein: the storage device: hasan external appearance representing, three-dimensionally ortwo-dimensionally, an object that appears in a virtual space generatedby execution of a predetermined application program by the informationprocessing device; and stores object information on the object; and atleast one processor included in the information processing deviceexecutes: writing, to the storage device, character image informationspecifying an image of a character created based on an instruction of auser; and executing a predetermined process using at least one of theobject information and the character image information read from thestorage device.
 3. The information processing system according to claim2, wherein the processor executes, as the predetermined process, aprocess of displaying at least a part of the object and at least a partof the character on a display unit in the state where the part of theobject and the part of the character are associated with each other. 4.The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein theobject information is stored on a storage unit in advance at the time ofproduction of the storage device.
 5. The information processing systemaccording to claim 2, wherein: the object is a player character to beoperated by the user; and the character corresponds to the user thatoperates the player character.
 6. The information processing systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the processor writes, to the storagedevice, information specifying an image of an avatar of the user as thecharacter image information.
 7. The information processing systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the information specifying the image ofthe avatar is information specifying an image of each of parts includedin the avatar.
 8. The information processing system according to claim2, wherein the storage device stores identification information on theobject as the object information.
 9. The information processing systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the processor executes the predeterminedapplication program to execute, as the predetermined process, anappearance process of causing the object that appears in the virtualspace using the object information read from the storage device.
 10. Theinformation processing system according to claim 9, wherein theprocessor executes another application program different from thepredetermined application program to further execute a process ofcausing the character to appear in the virtual space using the characterimage information read from the storage device.
 11. An informationprocessing system, comprising: a storage device; and an informationprocessing device for performing near field communication with thestorage device; wherein: the storage device: has an external appearancerepresenting, three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, an object thatappears in a virtual space generated by execution of a predeterminedapplication program by the information processing device; and storesobject information on the object and user information on a user; and atleast one processor included in the information processing devicedisplays the object and information representing the user correspondingto the object on a display unit in the state where the object and theinformation representing the user are associated with each other usingthe object information and the user information read from the storagedevice.
 12. The information processing system according to claim 11,wherein: the object is a player character in a game application which isthe predetermined application; and the processor displays, on thedisplay unit, the player character and information representing the userthat operates the player character in the state where the playercharacter and the information representing the user are associated witheach other.
 13. The information processing system according to claim 11,wherein: the user information is information specifying a character thatis different from the object and corresponds to the user; and theprocessor executes another application program different from thepredetermined application program to cause a character specified by theuser information read from the storage device to appear in the virtualspace.
 14. An information processing system, comprising: a storagedevice; and an information processing device for performing near fieldcommunication with the storage device; wherein: the storage device: hasan external appearance representing, three-dimensionally ortwo-dimensionally, a general appearance of a first character appearingin a virtual space generated by execution of a predetermined applicationprogram by the information processing device; and stores characterinformation on the first character; and at least one processor includedin the information processing device executes: writing, to the storagedevice, character image information specifying an image of a secondcharacter created based on an instruction of a user; and executing apredetermined process using at least one of the character informationand the character image information read from the storage device.
 15. Aninformation processing device for performing near field communicationwith a storage device; wherein the storage device: has an externalappearance representing, three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, anobject that appears in a virtual space generated by execution of apredetermined application program by the information processing device;and stores object information on the object; and at least one processorincluded in the information processing device executes: acquiringcharacter image information that specifies an image of a charactercreated based on an instruction of a user and is used in a predeterminedprocess in an application program executable by the informationprocessing device; and writing the acquired character image informationto the storage device.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium storing an information processing program executable by acomputer of an information processing device for performing near fieldcommunication with a storage device, wherein: the storage device has anexternal appearance representing, three-dimensionally ortwo-dimensionally, an object that appears in a virtual space generatedby execution of a predetermined application program by the informationprocessing device; and stores object information on the object; and theinformation processing program causes the computer to execute: acquiringcharacter image information that specifies an image of a charactercreated based on an instruction of a user and is used in a predeterminedprocess in an application program executable by the informationprocessing device; and writing the acquired character image informationto the storage device.
 17. An information processing method executableby an information processing system including a storage device and aninformation processing device for performing near field communicationwith the storage device, wherein: the storage device: has an externalappearance representing, three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, anobject that appears in a virtual space generated by execution of apredetermined application program by the information processing device;and stores object information on the object; and the informationprocessing device: writes, to the storage device, character imageinformation specifying an image of a character created based on aninstruction of a user; and executes a predetermined process using atleast one of the object information and the character image informationread from the storage device.
 18. A storage device for performing nearfield communication with an information processing device; wherein thestorage device: has an external appearance representing,three-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, an object that appears in avirtual space generated by execution of a predetermined applicationprogram by the information processing device; and includes: an objectinformation storage area that stores object information on the object;and a character image information storage area that stores characterimage information specifying an image of a character created based on aninstruction of a user.